Pilot Oyster Restoration Data Dorchester, Massachusetts
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massoyster.org The Massachusetts Oyster Project For Clean Water The Massachusetts Oyster Project For Clean Water Restoring oysters to their natural range to Restoring oysters to their natural range to improve harbor water quality improve harbor water quality 2010 2010 Oyster Growth Data Oyster Growth Data Dorchester Yacht Club Dorchester Yacht Club Malibu Bay Malibu Bay Boston, MA Boston, MA
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This presentation contains survival growth data from a successful pilot project to determine if oysters could survive in Dorchester's Malibu Bay. The Massachusetts Oyster Project for Clean Water conducted the pilot as part of its ongoing effort to restore oysters to the estuaries of Boston Harbor. To learn more visit www.massoyster.org
Transcript of Pilot Oyster Restoration Data Dorchester, Massachusetts
massoyster.org
The Massachusetts Oyster Project For Clean WaterThe Massachusetts Oyster Project For Clean Water Restoring oysters to their natural range to improve harbor Restoring oysters to their natural range to improve harbor
water qualitywater quality
20102010
Oyster Growth DataOyster Growth Data
Dorchester Yacht ClubDorchester Yacht Club
Malibu BayMalibu Bay
Boston, MABoston, MA
massoyster.org
Our GoalOur Goal
Re-establish protected oyster reef Re-establish protected oyster reef populations in the waters of Boston Harbor populations in the waters of Boston Harbor
to improve water quality, offset run-off to improve water quality, offset run-off pollution, attract other sea life and help pollution, attract other sea life and help
perpetuate the species.perpetuate the species.
These oysters will be placed in areas closed These oysters will be placed in areas closed to shell fishing and are not intended to be to shell fishing and are not intended to be
harvested.harvested.
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Oyster BenefitsOyster Benefits Filtering water in rivers and tidal estuariesFiltering water in rivers and tidal estuaries
30 gallons per oyster per day30 gallons per oyster per day Feeding on phytoplankton and silt Feeding on phytoplankton and silt Improves water clarityImproves water clarity Offsetting impact from sewer overflows and other manmade Offsetting impact from sewer overflows and other manmade
pollutantspollutants Capturing nitrogen, algae and bacteriaCapturing nitrogen, algae and bacteria Buffering ocean acidificationBuffering ocean acidification
Cleaner water attracts other sea life and peopleCleaner water attracts other sea life and people
Crassostrea Virginica
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Oysters in Malibu Bay Oysters in Malibu Bay DorchesterDorchester
Oysters were placed on November 26Oysters were placed on November 26thth 2009 under the 2009 under the auspices of a scientific permit from Massachusetts auspices of a scientific permit from Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries.Division of Marine Fisheries.
The oysters were split into two groups. Each group was The oysters were split into two groups. Each group was suspended off of a dock in two stacked milk crates.suspended off of a dock in two stacked milk crates.
The milk crates were checked periodically and the The milk crates were checked periodically and the oysters were measured. oysters were measured.
Two sets of oysters were placed. Two sets of oysters were placed. One was lost during dock construction. One was lost during dock construction. The second was lost temporarily but recoveredThe second was lost temporarily but recovered Key lesson on placement- choose discrete permanent location.Key lesson on placement- choose discrete permanent location.
Oysters removed on October 1, 2010 per the request of Oysters removed on October 1, 2010 per the request of DMF.DMF.
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Boston Harbor MapBoston Harbor Map
Dorchester Yacht Club
In Malibu Bay
The bay has full, 12 foot tidal swings and
a muddy bottom.The edges contain
sandy beach, mudflats, wetland grass and stony
areas.
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A special “Thank you” to Al and the A special “Thank you” to Al and the membership of Dorchester Yacht Club.membership of Dorchester Yacht Club.
They are very interested in improving the Harbor and They are very interested in improving the Harbor and delightful to terrific to work with.delightful to terrific to work with.
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Oyster SizeOyster Size
OYSTER LENGTH(Location: DORCHESTER YACHT CLUB)
12
32
52
72
May 21 2010 June 21 2010 July 28 2010 September 1,2010
October 1, 2010
SIZ
E (
MM
)
Max. Shell Length
Mean Shell Length
Min. Shell Length
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Oyster Size Normalized Oyster Size Normalized HistogramsHistogramsNormalized Histograms Dorchester
0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1
1.2
14 17 20 23 26 29 32 35 38 41 44 47 50 53 56 59 62 65 68 71 74 77 80 83 86 89
Size
May-10
10-Oct
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Length Standard DeviationLength Standard DeviationLength Standard Deviation Dorchester Oysters
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
May 21 2010 June 21 2010 July 28 2010 September 1, 2010 October 1, 2010
Mill
imet
ers
We physically lost some oysters here, which may have narrowed the sample.
It seemed like the oysters had a target length for entering the second winter ~75 mm
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Normalized Size Histogram Normalized Size Histogram
Normalized Histograms Dorchester
14 17 20 23 26 29 32 35 38 41 44 47 50 53 56 59 62 65 68 71 74 77 80 83 86 89
Size
10-Oct
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Average Weight Dorchester Oysters
0.000
0.010
0.020
0.030
0.040
0.050
0.060
0.070
0.080
0.090
May 21 2010 June 21 2010 July 28 2010 September 1,2010
October 1, 2010
Po
un
ds
Oyster Weight in PoundsOyster Weight in Pounds
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Water Temperature DataWater Temperature DataTemperature Dorchester Yacht Club
(Degrees F) Captured Using I-Button measuring every four hours.
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
10/14/2009 12/3/2009 1/22/2010 3/13/2010 5/2/2010 6/21/2010 8/10/2010 9/29/2010 11/18/2010
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ConclusionsConclusions Oysters can survive in Dorchester’s Malibu Bay in a Oysters can survive in Dorchester’s Malibu Bay in a
caged environment.caged environment. Oysters can grow at a healthy pace in Dorchester’s Oysters can grow at a healthy pace in Dorchester’s
Malibu Bay while suspended in the Water Column.Malibu Bay while suspended in the Water Column. We saw no sign of reproduction. However, we were not We saw no sign of reproduction. However, we were not
anticipating it. Further study would be required to confirm anticipating it. Further study would be required to confirm that reproduction is possible in this environment. that reproduction is possible in this environment. However, the impressive growth may inidicate favorable However, the impressive growth may inidicate favorable conditions. conditions.
Given that oysters once were prevalent throughout Given that oysters once were prevalent throughout Boston Harbor and that there are significant Boston Harbor and that there are significant environmental benefits from their presence, further environmental benefits from their presence, further research and restoration efforts on this topic may be research and restoration efforts on this topic may be warranted. warranted.
